During Advent, though we are preparing for our Lord’s birth, it is easy for us and our children to be pulled away from a time of reflection and prayer by the Christmas of decorations and presents. Children, especially, are understandably excited about the prospect of opening gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

It’s not surprising that a focus on the reason for the season, the Incarnation, gets lost. There is, however, an easy and enjoyable way to reinforce the true the meaning of Christmas even with the youngest of children.

It has to do with stories, Christmas stories.

"As we contemplate the Christmas story,” said Pope Francis, “we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman. We come to realize that so great is his love for us that he became one of us, so that we in turn might become one with him.”

At the heart of every Christmas story, especially those that are a retelling of the Nativity, is the story of the Incarnation when God took on human flesh in the form of Jesus solely out of love for us.

The power of the written word to influence an understanding of Christmas is well-documented and is an opportunity Catholic families, teachers and catechists can embrace by engaging their children and students in holiday reading.

Establishing a tradition of reading together during Advent and Christmas provides time for questions and conversations about the meaning of Christmas, about waiting for the Lord with an open heart, about the Nativity and Incarnation, about giving and not just receiving.

Christmas stories read with or to students is an effective and enjoyable supplement to text book lessons. If your school library or your classroom book corner doesn’t offer a broad enough selection, try your local library, or ask parents to send in their families favorite Christmas books to share with the class. Just be sure those books make it home!

Some Christmas Favorites for Holiday Reading

“Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas” by Antonie Schneider and Maja Dusikovaa, illustrator, is the story of Benjamin Bear who cannot wait for Christmas to come, so his mother tells him that every day when he opens a door on his Advent calendar, she'll tell him a story about another little bear and his long journey to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child.

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry and P.J. Lynch, illustrator, is a classic tale of love and sacrifice as the most meaningful of Christmas gifts.

“Joy to the World” by Tomie dePaola is a favorite Christmas collection which includes the well-loved stories of The Night of Las Posadas, The Story of the Three Wise Kings, and The Legend of the Poinsettia.

“The Donkey’s Tales: The Story of Jesus” by Adele Colvin and Peyton Carmichael, is a story about a grandmother donkey who carried Mary to Bethlehem and the donkey’s grandson who carried Jesus into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday.

“The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey” by Susan Wojciechowski and P.J. Lynch, illustrator, is a touching story about a widow and her son who ask reclusive woodcarver Jonathan Toomey to carve a Nativity scene for them in time for Christmas. What happens is a hopeful, joyful Christmas miracle.

“Christmas in a Manger” by Nola Buck and illustrator Felicia Bond is a much-loved telling of the beautiful first Christmas story in a board book for young children.

“Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem” by Maya Angelou and illustrators Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, inspires readers to embrace the peace and promise of Christmas in a poem about a family that joins with their very diversified community to celebrate the holidays.

“The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections with Pope Francis,” published by Franciscan Media, offers adults the opportunity to reflect on the Incarnation as a reality of Catholic faith.

In all our lessons about the Incarnation, during this time when children and adults are focused on gifts, it’s helpful to remember Pope Francis’ description of the Incarnation as the “original gift of Christmas.”

The Holy Father explains, "On that holy night, God becoming flesh, wanting to become a gift for man, gave himself for us; God has made his only-begotten Son a gift for us, taking our humanity to give us his divinity. Here we find the model of our giving, because our relationships, especially the most important ones, are driven by the free gift of love."

About the Author
Mary Clifford Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to ten, is a Catholic journalist, editor, and author who has served the Dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, Vermont, and RENEW International in the areas of religious education and communication.